Signs of Spring

If my observations are valid,  good ole' Punxatawnny Phil accurately predicted an early spring.  Of course, with temperatures hovering around zero and everything covered in layer upon layer of snow and ice, it may be wishful thinking!!  But my flock of turkeys has returned and today, I saw chickadees pairing up in flight and smacking their wings together, much like their eagle brothers doing their in-flight mating dance. I have not yet seen the eagles ... maybe today? 

From my perch at the living room window about 15' above ground, I am watching the flock of turkeys run across the neighbors frozen field into the woods surrounding my home, camoflauged by the tree trunks and baren thickets.   I wonder if they know I am watching?  I am constantly amazed by the resilience of Nature's creatures ~ the lame deer that survives to give birth to her fawn, the tiny birds flying in the face of stiff winter winds, the nearly naked, newborn bear cubs born in a den in -30 actual temperatures, and their "hibernating" mother who creates nourishment for them although she hasn't eaten in months. 

Sometimes I think we all would be better off, if we could live in survival mode.  At least then, my stored fat layer would serve a purpose....

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. We are a part of the earth and it is part of us  ~  Chief Seattle 

Lily the black bear den cam:

http://www.bear.org/livecams/lily-hope-cam.html